San Elizario ISD

• Why change the original calendar? What is the reason?
  The SEISD (San Elizario Independent School District) is experiencing many vacancies in teaching positions and other vacant positions critical to the services we provide students. The existing vacancies have been vacant for a long time. SEISD wants every student to have a qualified teacher to instruct every student. The four-day week will allow the SEISD to retain and recruit employees.

• How does this calendar save the district money?|
  The district could potentially save the following amount due to the Monday closure:
  Utilities (gas, water, electric) $111,279
  Transportation / Fuel $40,744
  Trash disposal $8,404
  Custodial supplies $19,756
  
  Total $180,183 (closing 44 Mondays) as per draft A and B 2022-2023 calendar drafts.

• Will you provide a Monday childcare program for those in need?
  The SEISD will not be providing childcare on Mondays. However, the district has identified information from the Texas Workforce Commission that provides childcare information by zip code location. Families may visit the El Paso Work Force Commission website for information on childcare services. https://www.twc.texas.gov/directory-workforce-solutions-offices-services
  
  Through the Child Care Services program (CCS), the Texas Workforce Commission subsidizes childcare for eligible families which would help with daycare tuition.
  
  In addition, the district is looking into potential partnerships with organizations that can provide childcare for students ages four through twelve years old. More information will be forthcoming. If you will be needing childcare services, please take a moment to complete the following form: (https://www.seisd.net/childcare)

• Will all students get a longer lunchtime or shorter lunchtime?
  A finalized schedule is pending but this information has been noted. The lunch period will not be shorter than thirty minutes.
  
  

• Wouldn’t this new calendar add more stress to students with less instruction time?
  The potential for stress exists in any school calendar option. The extra time added to the school day would allow the district to implement instructional intervention and/or tutoring during the school day, allowing the students to feel better prepared academically, thus reducing stress.
  
  

• Will employees be the only ones voting on which calendar they want? If so, why are parents not allowed to vote?
  The San Elizario ISD has held parent meetings to listen to parent questions and comments regarding the two four-day calendar options. Historically, the district calendar is selected by employees, and this year employees will continue to select between the proposed two four-day district calendars.
  
  When the district transitioned from the traditional school year to the current year-round calendar, parents were given the opportunity to provide their input and commentary, which allowed the district to address immediate questions and concerns like the ones in this Q & A. Parents are welcome to provide further comment at the following e-mail communications@seisd.net.

• Will tutoring be affected, and will it still be offered?
  The extended time will provide the district with intervention opportunities during the day, including Saturday mornings.

• Students already have eight classes in high school. With longer days, will more subjects be offered or taught?
  The extended time will provide the opportunity to add time to the existing schedule. It will also allow campus administrators to identify how to best work with the campus instructional master schedule to serve students' needs.

• How will this work for Athletics? Practice? Games?
  Ideally, the SEISD aims to have complete closure on Mondays. However, athletic coaches will evaluate their practice schedules, so they still follow UIL (University Interscholastic League) guidelines for practice time allowed. Sports can also continue to schedule practice on Saturdays.
  
  So far, the sports schedules do not have athletic competitions on Mondays, so this would not be an issue.

• Regarding tutoring on Saturday, will bus transportation still be available?
  Yes, if tutoring is held on Saturdays, the Saturday tutoring bus schedule route will be available.

• Regarding transportation, will bus transportation continue to run? What would the new hours be?
  Bus routes will be adjusted to coordinate with the schools’ start and end times throughout the school district.

• Regarding part-time bus monitors/ drivers, how many hours will employees be scheduled to work per day? Per week?
  Work hours for all part-time employees will be adjusted to the district’s needs, however, no employee’s pay will be reduced.

• What is the number one reason SEISD employees quit leading to this change?
  There are several reasons why employees resign. These include city relocation, retirement, career change, employment in a school district near the employee’s home.
  
  Employee vacancies are of high concern not only for SEISD but also for neighboring school districts in the El Paso County area and many other school districts areas across the state.

• How will time be compensated for Support Services Operating Center (SSOC) employees if they need to work on Mondays? For example, grounds, maintenance, warehouse, and custodians.
  Hourly employees asked to work on Mondays for specific tasks will be paid straight time up to 40 hours and overtime for any time worked more than 40 hours in that specific work week.

• Are 235 employees working four ten-hour days to complete the 40 hours?
  As part of our efforts to recruit and retain employees, the implementation of the four-day work week includes a reduction in the number of hours that employees currently work. For example, an employee who is currently required to work a 40-hour week will not be required to work 40 hours per week under the new 4-day work week.
  
  The new work schedule will result in an employee working less than 40 hours per week and the employee will NOT be required to “make-up” any hours to complete a 40-hour work week. However, the employee will be compensated at an hourly rate that will be equivalent to working a 40-hour week under the current compensation schedule applicable to the position they hold.

• What is meant by MOST employees will have Monday off?
  Although all employees will work a 4-day week, some employees such as District security officers will work a 4-day week that might not always result in having a Monday off. Due to the district having 24 hour / 7 days district coverage, a district security officer’s day off may be a day other than Monday. This is due to the rotation of work schedules in this department. All other employee groups will have Mondays off.

• Are employees leaving because the pay is less at SEISD?
  General pay increases are dependent upon funding from the state, which is directly impacted by student enrollment and average daily attendance.
  
  It is important to note that this school year SEISD teachers received a 6 percent pay raise while other employee groups received a 5 percent general pay raise.
  
  There are several reasons why employees resign. These reasons include city relocation, retirement, career change, or employment in a school district near the employee’s home.

• Will teachers have more bathroom breaks with longer days?
  Teachers will take bathroom breaks as needed throughout the school day.

• Not all doctors can see patients on Mondays, but as an employee, we would still have to obtain absences. Could we choose what day we could take off without taking local sick leave?
  Employees will still have sick and local leave that would allow them to schedule doctor's appointments on days other than Mondays if needed.

If you have further questions that weren't answered here, please email us via email at communications@seisd.net or call us at (915) 872-3900